Member stories
| | Story #4 (Translator) | | | " | I started in ProZ.com as a guest member in 2003, but in two years, I only had four jobs. I was not sure of becoming a member, because I thought nobody could guarantee me getting more jobs. However, I "took the risk" and this year I have dozens of jobs from all around the world! Before I was forced to add glossary terms in order to get Browniz points and thus pay each time I wanted to apply for a job. Now, I do not have to do that, so I can virtually apply to any job I want. I also noticed that some clients to whom I wrote whilst being a guest member, and who never offered me a job, started doing so. The good thing is that those customers continue calling me, from places such as England, the US, Australia, Hong Kong, etc. I paid for my membership with the second or third job. At present, I am the breadwinner of my family thanks to you. I am also thinking of opening a very small agency cause I cannot handle so much work. Thank you, PROZ! | " | |
| | Story #2 (Translator) | | | " | I discovered Proz.com surfing the Internet in 2003. It was a bad period for my career, the business where I had been working for 20 years as translator/interpreter shut down in 2002. Fortunately I never stopped translating and teaching in the evenings and at weekends, but at that time it was not enough. I was able to get more hours as teacher of French, Italian and English in a school near my town, but the salary was low and just not enough.
Fortunately I discovered Proz.com, so I immediately became a member and started to reply to job offers. In less than a month I was overloaded with translation projects. At the moment I am so busy that I had to leave my teaching post. Now, thanks to Proz.com I have many good clients all over the world.
I also recommended Proz.com to some colleagues of mine, who are now also satisfied members.
Thanks to Proz.com my dream of becoming a full-time freelance translator has come true, together with a good income. What can I add? Thanks a lot for running the site. | " | |
| | Story #7 (Translator) | | | " | We were recommended this site by a good colleague in August 2001, and were so convinced so after about half a year we decided to purchase membership. Since the start of 2002 we have been using almost all features on the ProZ.com site, but we would especially like to emphasize these three which really have boosted our business:
- Profile:
We have constantly been expanding our profile, made the suitable settings for the search engines, included more and more relevant information and inserted clearly defined search words. All this effort is now paying off as many end-clients can easily find us, which generates more jobs.
- Freelance directory:
Now it's so easy to find a suitable translator with the required language pair, expertise and experience.
This enables us to take on jobs we would otherwise have had to turn down.
- Blue Board:
It's inevitable that our industry also has some black sheep. The Blue Board is a splendid way for freelancers to feel comfortable with a new outsourcer, without having to worry about payment for the work carried out.
To conclude:
We understand ProZ.com as a perfect meeting place for translators and outsourcers. Every cent of the yearly membership fee is an excellent investment - the jobs we now get are worth several times more.
Thank you for offering us this service and keep up the good work! | " | |
|
| | Story #9 (Translator) | | | " | I joined ProZ.com in April 2007 and became a paying member a month later. It has been many years since I have done any translation work, but it is something I would like to come back to, and something I would like to continue doing when I retire from my regular job. Since joining ProZ.com - I have received so many job offers that I could retire tomorrow, if I were so inclined. Sometimes that feels tempting - especially at this time of year. I could do my translations just as well from a sunny balcony somewhere in a nice climate. However, I am not quite there yet.I'll continue my part time translations for the time being, and see what happens | " | |
| | Story #10 (Translator) | | | " | Here’s my story.
I have worked since 1984 as International Commerce Executive in
different companies in Spain. In March, 2008 the company I was then
working for had to close, ‘the crisis’ was their excuse.
I was then 53, my world collapsed, so I started navigating trying to
find a new job, I must have sent out about 250 copies of my CV, I had
some interviews, but the answer was always the same –you have too much
experience- (in other words; “you are too old”). Then, suddenly I
stumbled across the ProZ site. I registered, and started viewing the
offers, “this is wonderful”, I thought to myself. I thought about the
possibilities for a ‘whole night’ and then in the morning I paid my
registration and started to quote on jobs offered. The results were
fantastic, I just kept getting more and more work, by then end of 2008
(22 May to 31 Dec) I had tripled my last years’ salary.
The peacefulness of working from home, no more travelling, deciding
how many hours you want to work, not being someone else’s slave, etc.
etc. On top of that, I love translating. So what could be better.
Personally, I want to thank the ProZ staff for creating a site that
has given me the opportunity to carry on working, and now in a job I
have always enjoyed.
Certainly, I will recommend our site to all I know who are good
translators. | " | |
| | Story #3 (Translator) | | | " | I entered the ProZ.com community as a translation student, without much experience but with a great hunger for knowledge. I was a non-paying user for a year. With the help of ProZ.com. com I learnt a lot, solved many translation problems and even wrote a chapter of my MA thesis.
The membership helped me launch my professional career. I began receiving job offers through my profile from outsourcers from both Poland and abroad. In my case, the fee paid off in the very first month of being a full member.
As one of my colleagues rightly points out, being a member doesn't automatically make you a better translator. That's true but it certainly gives you more opportunities. | " | |
| | Story #1 (Translator) | | | " | I paid my first membership in May 2004 and a month later I had a request via ProZ.com from a new client for interesting translation projects. Not only is this client still my client and we have a wonderful working relationship, but I also got the investment into the ProZ.com membership back multiple times just by the first project for this client. Apart from that I have met really nice people through ProZ.com Powwows and Conferences: At the last couple of Powwows the group got on so well, that we decided to meet regularly. | " | |
| | Story #8 (Outsourcer) | | | " | As I approach the one-year anniversary of my Proz.com Platinum Membership, I would like to take the opportunity to thank you for helping to make my translation career a success.
When I joined Proz.com in June of 2006 I wasn’t sure of what the cost-benefit ratio might be, but I decided to take a chance. Looking back, I must say it was probably the best professional investment I’ve ever made.
In less than a week I had my first job offer from a client who still sends me work on a regular basis. Since then, I’ve expanded my client base beyond what I could have ever imagined.
Now I am preparing to leave my “day job” to dedicate myself to my translation career on a full-time basis.
Moreover, Proz.com has provided me with a network of qualified and respected colleagues who are always ready to lend a hand in translating difficult terms, to offer advice on how to handle a business matter or even just to say hello and share a laugh or a pleasant thought for the day.
Thank you, Proz.com. for making translation more than just a “job” for me. Thank you for helping to make it my new profession. | " | |
| | Story #6 (Outsourcer) | | | " | Using ProZ.com over the years has helped us to become the largest community of translators and translation agencies. Over the years it has not only become a place for sharing jobs, but a meeting point for language professionals over the world. The community has became an icon in the industry. | " | |
| | Story #5 (Translator) | | | " | When I discovered Proz.com the first time I was skeptical. I did not understand fully how it could bring advantages to my business. For some months I kept an eye on it and finally decided to try at least once to be a member. Since then, I have lived day after day together with Proz.com, from morning to evening, browsing through the posted jobs and the announcements, and meeting new colleagues. I cannot explain how much my life changed: From an isolated situation, in the midst of the events, from wondering how to move in the business, to grasping the challenges, from hunting for colleagues, to being surrounded by a lot of new friends. I adore Proz.com! | " | | |
|
